Psalms 129-131
Psalm 129 speaks of the enemies which had afflicted Israel; many a time during the long period from the captivity and cruel bond slave of Egypt in the early history of the people to the last enemy, the king of the north, or the Assyrian, the children of Israel has or will yet have suffered at the hands of those who hated them. God has protected them from destruction as a people; what other nation has endured such persecution and scattering, and continued to this day? Surely none. True, the ten tribes carried away by the Assyrians (see 2 Kings 17:6) have disappeared, so that for many centuries they have been searched for in vain, but they will be soon brought back to join the two tribes of the Jews. (Ezekiel 37: 21).
The enemies, those who hate Zion, the center of Israel's future glory, will be brought to naught as the grass upon the house tops. This psalm affords a fresh illustration of what has been remarked before, that all the psalms are for and of Israel, though Christians find much in them of comfort in trial, and, above all, they picture in most touching language the suffering One, the crucified One who is God's King and David's Lord.
In Psalm 130 Israel's deep dye of sin, brought under consideration in a number of the psalms which have been before us, is again the theme. Here mercy is counted upon (verse 3 and 4); there is forgiveness with Jehovah, and the soul in confidence will wait for Him as for no other hoped for object. Have you ever spent the night in anxiety, and longed for the morning's first rays to chase the gloom away? (Verse 6).
This beautiful psalm links together in our Saviour God forgiveness, loving kindness (or mercy), plenteous redemption (ransom), and an unchangeable purpose to bless His people.
In the short 131St psalm the suited state of the believer, if he would be blessed, is set forth. It is again Israel, of course, and now subject, as once and for long insubordinate, willful, disobedient.
We may observe that the latter part of verse 1 is without exact counterpart in the Epistles of the New Testament which are written for the members of Christ's heavenly body. There the edifying and upbuilding of the saints is prominent as in Ephesians 4:11-16; Col. 3:16; 2 Tim. 3:14-17.
Children of God, let us not neglect the reading of His Word!
Messages of God’s Love 1/3/1932